OXYGÈNE

The last of my 'fabulous five' prog albums that I wanted to review. The five albums that opened my eyes when I was young to the beauty of prog. This is a hard album to review for I am not an expert of electronic prog, so take my review for what it's worth. Maybe one who is not familiar with progressive electronica might consider this as a first buy. While I love and adore this album...much of that adulation is likely sentimental, having some great memories of listening to this in the late 70's with my father and my sister.

My listening to the album is coloured by the context I put it in. Like every kid in the late 70's I was caught up, hook line and sinker in the Star Wars craze. This album, starting with Part 1, with it's misty and expansive use of pretty much every synthesizers available at time brought the expanse of the depths of space right through my fathers speakers. Music to me has alway a portal.. to places far away, to lands of imagination and fantasy and this album will take you away if you let it. Part 1. after a lengthy tour through the vastness of space is puntuated by a burst of syntheized laser fire near the 7 minute mark when then seques in Part 2 where the battle is joined in earnest. Young Micky and his dim-witted copilot of a sister would grab toy Star Wars ships and run around the living room acting our vast battles in the cold of space when listening to this. Part 1 and 2 are the centerpieces of the album for me. A lot of memories are tied up in those two parts, my sister and I still laugh about it when we listen to this album. The rest of the album is really good as well. Not being an expert again on electronic prog short of a few Tangerine Dream albums I won't try to sell it's comparative quality. However if you are looking for a nice place to start in electronic prog. You might consider starting here. This album, has held my regard and fascination for nearly 30 years. You might find something in this that you enjoy. A great lights out, and turn off your mind and just let your mind wander album. Give it 3 stars a good addition to your prog collection .. but you may come to love this album as I do.

Michael (aka Micky)